People Protecting the Lake
Since 1885.
Lake George
Association – P.O. Box 408 – Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 668-3558 – Fax
(518) 668-4702 – www.lakegeorgeassociation.org
January 7, 2008
For
Immediate Release
Contact: James Hood
Communications Coordinator
Lake George Association
Phone: (518) 668-3558
LGA SAYS “DON’T TRASH THE ICE!”
Lake George, NY – The Lake George Association has launched a campaign to urge Lake George winter sports enthusiasts to refrain from leaving trash on the ice. “Carry On, Carry Off” is the slogan that will be appearing on signs, posters and flyers around Lake George at public access points and in local businesses.
According to Emily DeBolt, the LGA’s Education and Outreach coordinator, the campaign will hopefully strike a chord with the hundreds of ice fishermen, snowmobilers, skaters and others who may travel out onto the ice when the lake eventually freezes.
“When it’s cold and the ice is 2 feet thick, people sometimes lose sight of the fact that the ice is temporary,” said DeBolt. “Anything that you leave on the ice will eventually end up in the lake after ice-out.”
The LGA’s Water Quality Committee decided to create the signs to raise awareness that protecting the lake’s water quality is a year-round responsibility. The committee has even discussed doing a late-season sweep of some of the more popular areas to pick up trash while the ice is still solid.
The Lake George Fishing Alliance is also lending its support to the “Carry On, Carry Off” campaign. The group has helped to pay for some of the signage, and will be working to identify ideal locations for sign placement.
The LGFA has also offered to have flyers printed up to be handed out to participants at ice fishing tournaments. Kiwanis has agreed to hand the flyers out at the tournament that it will be sponsoring on February, 23rd in Bolton.
Executive Director, Walt Lender, pointed out that the LGA had conducted ice clean-ups in the past, particularly around the Winter Carnival.
“People should be able to enjoy the lake in the winter as well as in the summer,” said Lender. “However, polluting the ice is the same as polluting the lake. There is no difference.”
Signs will be posted at several town beaches. Hague, Putnam and Ticonderoga have already agreed to allow the signs. Lender reported that the LGA expects to hear back from the other towns soon.
“We’re also hoping to hear back from DEC to see if we can put the signs up on their properties, such as Million Dollar Beach and Mossy Point, as well as the state campgrounds at Rogers Rock and Hearthstone,” said Lender.
The LGA is a not-for-profit membership organization of
people interested in working together to protect, conserve, and improve the
beauty and quality of the Lake George Basin. For more information, contact the
LGA at (518) 668-3558 or check out LGA on the web at www.lakegeorgeassociation.org.
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